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Following recent outrage over Russia\u2019s updated nuclear doctrine, the Kremlin is now tempering fears regarding Moscow’s potential use of nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine should not always be linked to a possible Russian nuclear response.<\/p>\n
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an updated policy on the use of nuclear weapons, citing tensions with Western powers over their support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n
The new guidelines allow for a nuclear response to airstrikes on Russian territory or attacks by a non-nuclear state backed by nuclear powers.<\/p>\n
Russia reportedly fended off 125 Ukrainian drones on Sunday. In remarks to the press in Moscow on Monday, Peskov addressed the question of whether this did not constitute a massive air attack to which Russia, according to the new doctrine, could respond with nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
“There is no need to over-interpret this document. It is an
extremely important one, yes, and important decisions will
be formalized accordingly,” Peskov said.<\/p>\n
Western security experts have offered differing assessments of the threat while Ukraine has termed the revised Russian policy as “nuclear blackmail.”<\/p>\n
Fabian Hoffmann, a German military expert, wrote on X, that so far, there are no credible signs of preparations for the use of nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
“There is a high likelihood that Putin will never resort to nuclear use, as the risks are too great,” Hoffmann wrote.<\/p>\n
“There is equally a strong chance that Russia’s nuclear threats will remain non-credible, confined to the rhetorical level and not turn into action,” wrote the Oslo-based military researcher.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n